BEAUMONT FACTS & TRIVIA

CONTENTS. (Click on links to jump to section - To download a printable PDF version of this page please click here)

This Section covers interesting facts about the school, its old boys and some who were associated with Beaumont during its existence.

 

1 - Royal & Heads of State

2 - General

3 - Military

4 - League of Nations

5 - Politics & Diplomatic

6 - Countries worldwide

7 - Professions

8 - Sport

 

ROYAL & HEADS OF STATE CONNECTIONS

There were three official visits by Queen Victoria in 1882, 1887 and 1897.

The first visit followed the attempt on the Queen’s life in Windsor when Eton and Beaumont boys who were present helped to apprehend the assailant.

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Other visitors: King Alfonso XIII of Spain 1906.

                        King Carlos I of Portugal 1907

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King Alfonso and Queen Ena (granddaughter of Queen Victoria) spent their honeymoon at Wardhouse - the Scottish estate of Major General Gordon OB.

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Prince Jaime

Prince Alfonso with his wife Princess Beatrice

 Prince Jaime Duke of Madrid Carlist claimant to the Spanish throne and Legitimist pretender to the French throne was at Beaumont 1881-6.

Prince Alfonso, Duke of Galliera, Infante of Spain was married to Princess Beatrice (of Saxe-Coburg & Gotha) granddaughter of Queen Victoria and Great Granddaughter of Tsar Alexander II

Three other Spanish Royal Princes were at the school 1899 -1904 and Prince Jean de Borbon was at the school under the alias John Freeman 1914.

 Juana Alfonsa Milan illegitimate daughter of King Alfonso XIII married the son of his friend and confidante Jose Quinones de Leon OB.

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Prince Sixte de Borbon-Parme 

 Prince Michael Andreevich

Prince Sixte de Borbon-Parme current Legitimist pretender to the French throne left the school in 1955.

Prince Michael Andreevich of Russia, seen by many as the heir to the Tsar Nicholas II, was at the school when his family was given sanctuary at Frogmore by King George V in the 1930s.

The last Hapsburg Emperor Blessed Charles and his family were rescued from Austria in 1919 by Colonel Edward Strutt OB known “as the Saviour of the Hapsburgs”.

!n 1891 the German Emperor visited his royal grandmother at Windsor; the Sunday Times noted that one of the features was the cheering by Eton Boys and those of their Catholic equivalent: Beaumont.

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The present Queen came to the School in its centenary year 1961 and commented that Beaumont was the most un-institutional establishment she had visited.

The Queen presented a tea service for the Centenary Fund Raffle in 1957. Princess Grace of Monaco also made a gift.

The Empress Eugenie of France and The Prince Imperial paid several informal visits to the school during their exile in England. Her nephews and heirs to her Spanish estates as well as godsons were at Beaumont.

Three wives or mothers of OBs were Royal mistresses of Edward VII; Jeanne Princess de Sagan, Julia Marquise d’Hautpoul and Marie Hope Vere.

Sir Charles Russell OB assisted the King over difficulties with another mistress Daisy “Babbling” Brooke.

The Title Prince of Orange is held, not only by the Crown Prince of the Netherlands and Prince George Frederich of Prussia, but also by Guy Marquis de Nesle et de Mailly OB.

Sir Patrick “Paddy” Leigh Fermor wrote in “The Traveller’s Tree”; “the sons of European Princes go to Beaumont, Lesser aristocrats go to Ampleforth”.

At the Coronation of King George V in 1911, some 60 boys took their places in Westminster Abbey with their parents through right of birth or invitation.

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President Lopez

President Guxzman

Emiliano Pessoa (Lopez) eldest son of the 3rd President of Paraguay and national hero killed after the battle of Cerra Cora was at the school 1864 -8.

The three sons of President Antonio Guzman Blanco of Venezuela “the illustrious American” were at Beaumont 1884-9.

GENERAL

The School colours are described as “Cambridge Blue, Oxford Blue and Windsor Brown” were first adopted by the Cricket X1 in the 19th Century and by other sports by 1919. Up until then each sport had its own distinctive colours.

Baron de Coubertin visited the school together with Eton, Harrow and Rugby in 1883 when he was investigating the revival of the Olympic movement.

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Evelyn Ellis

Louis Bleriot

The first motor car journey in England was made in 1885 by the Hon Evelyn Ellis from his home on Englefield Green to Beaumont (it was downhill all the way; history does not relate whether he made a successful return.)

Louis Bleriot the first man to fly the Channel in 1909 sent his son Louis to the school in 1923

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Coco Chanel designed a) the “little black dress” when in mourning for her lover  “Boy” Capel OB after his death in 1919. It gained even greater popularity with designs by Edward Molyneux OB.  b) Her signature suit was based on the Beaumont Blazer worn by her nephew and ward André when he was at Beaumont. c) Her scent Chanel No5 was in memory of Capel.

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Twiggy modelling the BIBA style

Stephen Fitz-Simon OB together with his wife Barbara Hulaniki owned BIBA – the art-deco temple of fashion of the Sixties in London.

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Desmond Knox-Leet

  Desmond Knox-Leet OB, perfumer, founded Diptyque the legendary French fragrance company in Paris in 1968.

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When the School Cadet Corps was formed in 1906, its initial affiliation to the East Surrey Regiment was arranged through the personal intervention of FM the Earl Roberts VC the Commander in Chief.

Capt. Sir George Dixie Bt KOSB presented the cup for the best cadet on the NCO’s Cadre in recognition of passing four years on the Western Front WW1 unscathed.

.The School Cadet Corps had the distinction of wearing the Garter Star. It was awarded by King George VI for their role as part of the Home Lands Battalion of the Home Guard in WW2. The Corps was the only force affiliated to the Household Brigade up until the school closure.

Tom Kelly Irish Guards was in succession, RSM, Adjutant and finally Commanding officer of the school Corps. He was also the Senior Sgt-Major of the Queen’s Body Guard of The Yeoman of the Guard.

 Together with Eton, Beaumont had the distinction of their First XI playing at Lords (against the Oratory School) and sending the First VIII to Henley Royal Regatta.

The first coloured cricketer to play at Lords was in a Beaumont side.

 “The put me down”. When a newly established Beaumont asked Eton for a game of cricket the answer came back “Harrow we know, Winchester we have heard of, but what is Beaumont. Beaumont replied “Beaumont is what Eton was the school for Catholic gentleman”.

Beaumont was the only Catholic school to sponsor Captain Scott’s Antarctica Expedition 1910 in the form of a Russian sled dog Kumgai which was re-named Beaumont. Several expeditions were sustained by Bohane OBs owned Kopke port.

Two regions of Antarctica are named for OBs; The Mackay Mountains after Clarence Mackay, discovered by the Byrd expedition 1934.

The Dion Islands, off the west coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, for the Marquis Jules Albert de Dion discovered by the French expedition 1908-10.

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The Wild Bunch;- Sundance seated on left; Butch on the right

Butch Cassidy leader of the Wild Bunch Gang and the Sundance Kid were killed outside one of the Bolivian silver mines of Carlos Aramayo OB after they had robbed the company payroll.

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Lady Florrie Dixie (nee Douglas) was the sister of OB Lord James Douglas and the mother of two OBs. She was a famed adventurous, journalist, and suffragette and was blamed for the death of John Browne by Queen Victoria.

When Sir John Knill Bart, Lord Mayor of London, visited with his Beaumont educated son and also a future Lord Mayor, the carriage with four postilions came up the drive at a “hand gallop” to pull up on their haunches at the front door. There was a deafening roar not only of welcome but for their style of arrival.

Beaumont was probably the first of the international schools; Boys came from France (125), Spain (117), The Caribbean (71), USA (67), Argentina (53), India (56), Mexico (42), Australasia (33), Southern Africa (24), Canada (23), Portugal (32), Belgium (29) and many others from around the globe.

When the General of The Jesuits visited from Rome in 1892 there was dense mist: he announced that an annual holiday be kept in his honour but stipulated that it must not be in the foggy season.

The Argus and The Westmeath Guardian and Spanish Advocate were all periodicals written and produced by the pupils, several of whom became well-known in the literary world, before the official Beaumont Review was first published in 1894.

Beaumont held a very important collection of Medieval and Reformation manuscripts and books in The Campbell Library. Important paintings include the work of Bartolome Murillo and a series of portraits from the boudoir of Queen Catherine consort of Charles II. In the museum there were mementoes of historic interest gifted by Old Boys diverse in nature from the Koran of the infamous Khalifa Abdullah, a case of razors that shaved King Louis XIV “The Sun King”, to a collection of several thousand birds’ eggs.

MILITARY

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Edmond Costello OB won his V C at Malakand 1897, rescuing a wounded Indian soldier when under fire, in the War against the Pashtun on the NW Indian Frontier.

 BOER WAR

110 OBs fought in the war; the largest contingent from any of the Catholic schools

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General Gordon

 The Rising Sun Badge

Chief of Staff Australian forces was the Spanish born, Scottish aristocrat but Australian soldier Major General Joseph Gordon OB. Later he was Chief of the Australian General Staff. He also designed the “Rising Sun” Badge adopted as their official insignia

Both General Gordon (Officer Commanding) and Capt Frederick de Bertodano (father of an OB) the investigating officer, were involved in the trial for murder and execution of Australian folk hero “Breaker” Morant.

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 The Cape Cycle Corps saw the first use of bicycles in War; the Corps was commanded by a member of the Cape Legislature - Cyril Owen Lewis OB.

Henry Green with his school friend Arthur Wood (Hon Page to the Queen and son of the Field Marshal) went to Sandhurst together, commissioned into The Cameronians, went to the Boer War and fought at Spion Kop. Green rescued a wounded Wood under fire and was awarded the DSO. After the War They went on the Stage together.

WORLD WAR ONE

 

Beaumont suffered one of the highest number of casualties of any school 22%. Almost 600 OBs served in Uniform; 138 died.

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George MacDonogh

Alexander Teixeira de Mattos 

The head of Military Intelligence and the man that helped to set up MI5 & 6 was General Sir George MacDonogh, the senior Catholic General in the War. He was the King’s Representative to bring back the body of the Unknown Soldier.

 Alexander Teixeira de Mattos , writer and theatre critic “Man- about-Town” was Head of the Department of Trade Intelligence.

Hay of Seaton

Malcolm Hay of Seaton was Head of MI 1b - Signals intelligence and code breaker. The forerunner of Bletchley Park.

 Two OBs killed at the end of December 1914 were buried during the “Christmas truce” with German officers present to pay their respects. In two separate places along the front, Lt Bernard Bernard Warwicks and Lt Richard Nugent Scots Gds.

 Lt Wilfred Stapleton-Bretherton RF died as a POW of wounds in a German hospital in 1914; his sister Evelyn the Princess Blucher was a nurse for the German Red Cross.

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Prince Reginald de Croy

Harry Butters 

                               

Prince Reginald de Croy OB was head of the most successful resistance and escape organisation on the Western Front. Nurse Edith Cavell, shot as a spy, was one of his operatives.

Lt Harry Butters OB the first American to join up for the War with the BEF was killed on the Somme 1916; his obituary in the press was written by his friend Winston Churchill.

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André de Gennes OB was one of the most successful French fighter pilots and was known as “the Balloon Bursting Ace”. He shot down but sadly did not kill the future Reichsmarschall Goering. De Gennes was forced down and captured in July 1916.

Lawrence of Arabia’s commanding officer, mentor and collaborator that brought his plans to fruition was Colonel Pierce Joyce OB.

 The most senior officer from the West Indies and of mixed race was Colonel William de Boisierre OB.

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On the Somme 1916, Eugene Vaughan DSO, godson of the Empress Eugenie commanded a company of the Grenadier Guards in one of the great defensive actions of the War in which they killed over one hundred Germans and took twenty prisoners.

Lady Dorothie Moore (née Feilding) wife and mother of OBs was the first woman to receive a military decoration – the MM in 1916.  She served as a volunteer nurse and ambulance driver.

The British Liaison Officers with the French High Command were OBs: Capt Arthur Capel with Prime Minister Clemenceau, Capt Ct John de Salis with Marshal Joffre and Colonel (later Major General) Kevin Martin with Marshal Foch.

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Signing of the Armistice

Captain James Marriott RN OB was one of the five Allied Witnesses to the German signing of the Armistice at Compiegne in  November 1918

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The Indian Army contingent on the Victory Parade London 1919.  The Contingent was led by Brigadier General Edmund Costello VC OB .

11 Jesuit members of staff served as Chaplains.

Cmdr Osmond Prentis RN OB, Captain HMS Wolverine sank the first Turkish shipping of the Ottoman Campaign 5 November 1914.

Awards included 46 DSOs, 76 MCs & equivalents, 23 Foreign Bravery medals.

WORLD WAR II

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Kindertransport 

Sir George Ogilvie-Forbes

Sir George Ogilvie-Forbes, British diplomat, was the organiser of the “Kindertransport” to rescue Jewish children from Nazi Germany in 1938.

General Jacek Dembinski “Hero of the Dneistr” and wartime Head of the Polish Forces in exile sent his son to Beaumont.

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French Government May 1940, Provoust circled. (de Gaulle right rear)

Jean Provoust OB was the French Minister of Information at the time of the fall of France.

Andre Clasen OB, later the Luxemburg Ambassador in London was the man that brought his country’s Government into exile rather than capitulate.

Robert Hoare DSO OB commanded K Battery RHA at Hondegham 1940. Their stand and valour resulted in the Battery being renamed Hondegham to honour their rear guard action.

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The Allied Memorial to those that died during the evacuation at Dunkirk is on the Esplanade George Cavrois named for an honoured veteran of WWI and an OB.

One of the first George Medals was awarded to John Cantopher OB for saving a crashed enemy bomber for intelligence by finding and releasing a time bomb following the Battle of Graveney Marsh – the last armed fight between British Forces and enemy troops on English soil.

Michael Clinton OB received one of only two George Medals and Bar for bomb disposal.

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pierre

   Michel d’Arcangues 

Pierre de Vomecourt

The two main escape routes out of France over the Pyrenees were organised by OBs;
the Mediterranean route by Tom Kenny assisted by Nancy Wake GM and the Atlantic by Michel d’Arcangues. A later route into Switzerland was organised by Frederick West VC
the father of an OB.

Beaumont’s greatest contribution to the War effort was with SOE and the French Resistance Movement.

The founders of the French Resistance were OBs - SOE  Group leader  Baron Pierre de Vomecourt, his brother Philippe who later organised the largest breakout of a prison in wartime France and Jean who ran the resistance in Eastern France. He was captured and starved to death at Sachsenhausen.

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Brian Rafferty

John Farmer

British agents included Brian Rafferty executed on the gallows at Flossenburg in 1945, John Sehmer shot at Mauthausen 1944 and John Farmer who worked with Nancy Wake and survived; after the war he was an agent for MI6.

Baron Jerome Anzon-Caccamissi OB French Intelligence Officer and member of the Resistance was also murdered at Mauthausen 1945.

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Pierre Eugene Clairin

Colonel Harold Stevens

Resistance leaders included Edmund de Ayala OB of the champagne family, Ambrose de Lisle OB and Pierre Eugene Clairin OB the artist.

Gilbert Renault “Colonel Remy” leading intelligence agent of the Free French sent his son to the school in 1946.

Colonel Harold Stevens OB ran the Italian section of the BBC European Service. As “Il Colonello Buona Sera”, he transmitted every evening. His name was found to be painted on houses during the invasion of Italy.

Brigadier Raymond Maunsell OB was head of Security & Intelligence in the Middle East as such he ran several double agents within Axis Intelligence and broke the Kondor Circle.

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 Squadron Leader John Taylor DFC & Bar was one of the leading fighter aces of the War with 15 confirmed and 11 damaged. He was KIA leading 601 Sqn in June 1943.

The De Haviland Mosquito, the most successful fighter bomber of the war, was designed and developed at Salisbury Hall Hertfordshire the home of Walter Goldsmith. John de Haviland and John Scrope OB were killed testing one of these aircraft in August 1943.

It was reported by Vatican Radio that General Tomoyuki Yamashita “the Tiger of Malaya” and commander of the Japanese Army had been educated at Beaumont; there is no record of an OB of that name.

The OB and ardent fascist Prince Jean de Borbon was placed on the MI5 watch list together with the father of two boys at the school - Spanish Air Attaché Carlos Sartorious.

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Nicholas Tindal-Carill-Worsley

Alex Muirhead

Nicholas Tindal OB was one of the escape organisers for The Great Escape from Stalag Luft III. Nicholas was responsible for all the forged and “acquired” documents.

Wing Cmdr The Marquis de Casa Maury OB Chief of Combined Operations Intelligence was credited with the success of the St Nazaire Raid “the greatest raid of all” in 1942 but was the only person to take responsibility for the disaster at Dieppe later that year.

In the worst atrocity discovered by the British forces, Alex Muirhead SAS OB discovered the Belsen concentration camp. Colonel Hubert Cochrane OB compiled the evidence. Sir Theobald Mathew (father of an OB) ordered the prosecution and Brigadier Edmund Paton-Walsh (father of OBs) oversaw the execution of those responsible.

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Howard Gee

 Howard Gee was one of only two civilian prisoners in Colditz, sent there after various escape attempts. He was later joined by Pierre de Vomecourt.

Brigadier Willie van Cutsem OB headed the Political Intelligence Bureau assisted by Leopold Clasen which organised the treatment of Germans and their culture after hostilities ended.

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Painting of the regimental Drum Corporal of the 9th Royal Lancers by leading sporting artist Raoul Millais presented to the Regiment in memory of Lt Col Ronald McDonnell OB  killed on the Coriano Ridge in Italy 1944.

Of 20 OB POWs of the Japanese, 10 were on the Burma Railway and 2 were sent to the mines. They all survived.

F/O Christopher Blundell-Hill RAFVR OB was the last fighter casualty of the War over Germany 1st April 1945.

The Wermacht Barracks at Verden occupied by the 51st Highland Division in 1945 and later by the 1st Armoured Division was renamed Sheil Barracks in memory of Brigadier William Sheil CBE, DSO & BAR OB killed in action.

OTHER MILITARY FACTS

 

Brigadier William Segrave OB was awarded 3 DSOs the first as a newly joined subaltern in the HLI in 1898 and two others in WW1. His school contemporary and brother officer in the HLI Brigadier Cuthbert Martin was also awarded 2 DSOs in WW1.

F/O Tim McElhaw OB was the last pilot to shoot down another plane in close aerial combat - Israel 1948.

James Sheppard OB, a naval surgeon, was awarded the GM for treating casualties following the Bedenham incident at Gibraltar in 1951 which killed 13 and hundreds were injured.

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HMS Affray

Bill Anderson

Derrick Foster OB was second in command of the submarine HMS Affray which foundered off Alderney 1951; the worst loss of life in the Royal Navy since WW2.

Major William Anderson OB was the only British Special Forces operative to work behind the enemy lines during the Korean War.

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 General Sir Basil Eugster OB was the first Catholic Colonel of the Irish Guards when appointed in 1969.

Three OB Frenchmen have held commissions in the Irish Guards. In 1944, 5 OBs of the same year were commissioned into the Irish Guards on the same day.

LEAGUE OF NATIONS

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Mark Sykes

Flag of the Arab Revolt

Col Sir Mark Sykes OB was; 

a) responsible for the Sykes/Picot agreement that divided the Middle East between British and French interests.

b) drafted the Balfour agreement.

c) revived many of the ME regional and national names

d) designed the flag of “the Arab Revolt” and several of the national variations.

The Hon Hugh O’Beirne OB Minister at the Foreign Office originally proposed a home for the Jews in Palestine.

Henri Brenier OB brought about the International Opium agreement and was the French representative on the Drugs Advisory Council.

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José Quinones de Leon OB was the Spanish diplomat that proposed, and the leading proponent, of the admittance of Germany to the League in 1925.

POLITICS & DIPLOMATIC

The majority of OB MPs, up until the Great War, took the Liberal Whip or were Irish Nationalists.

George Hennessey OB, 1st Lord Windlesham was Vice Chairman of the Conservative party 1931-41

The wife of Henry Hornyold-Strickland OB  - the Hon Mary chaired the Conservative Party Conference in 1947.

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Granard  in the centre

Sir Philip de Zulueta

8th Earl of Granard OB was the last holder of the political appointment of Master of the Horse 1907-15. He then held the Court appointment 1923-36.

Sir Philip de Zulueta OB was Private Secretary and foreign affairs adviser to Prime Ministers Anthony Eden and Harold Macmillan.

  

Following Sir Oswald Mosley’s formation of the British Union of Fascists there was a group formed at Beaumont in the late Thirties. The aunt of George Spence OB was married to Baldur von Schirich Head of the Hitler Youth Movement.

 Five OBs, as Ambassadors to the Court of St James, were appointed GCVO; the highest personal honour by the British Monarch.

Luxemburg – André Clasen

Portugal  - Duke of Palmella

Spain – Marquis Merry Del Val, Duke of Berwick & Alba, Duke of Baena.

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Marquis Merry Del Val

Duke of Berwick  & Alba

 The homes of several OBs are now official Government residences;

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Yarralumla

Eden Hall

Yarralumla – Murray family - Governor of Australia.

 Eden Hall    - Vivian Bath  - Governor of Singapore, now the British High

                      Commissioner.

Glencairn House – Croker family – Ambassador of Great Britain to Ireland.

Av George V –  José Quinones de Leon – Ambassador of Spain to France.

56 Av d’Iena – Arthur “Boy” Capel - Ambassador of Egypt to France.

Hacienda Santa Catalina – Jorge Gomez y Parada – Ambassador of The Russian Federation to Mexico.

AUSTRALIA

Two Prime Ministers sent their sons to the school – Sir Henry Parker and William Bede Dalley the first Australian to be appointed to the Privy Council.

CANADA

Robert Horne-Payne OB through his British Empire Trust Company was one of the major investors in opening up the Western Provinces at the turn of the century. The town of Hornepayne in Northern Ontario is named after him.

George Sandfield Macdonald OB was the son of the Hon Andrew Macdonald the youngest “Father of the Confederation of Canada”.

George Vanier, soldier, High Commissioner in London and later the first French Canadian Governor General sent his three sons to the School. The youngest Jean OB is the founder of the International Charity – L’Arche.

Kevin O’Neill from Bletchley Park became Head of the Communications Branch of The National Research Council then renamed the Communications Security Establishment (Canadian intelligence equivalent of GCHQ) from 1971 to 1980.

IRELAND

The first president of Sinn Fein was Edward Martyn, author, playwright and art collector. He was succeeded by another OB – John Sweetman.

The Defence counsel for Sir Roger Casement at his trial for treason in 1916 was Alexander Sullivan OB.

Among those that negotiated the Anglo-Irish Treaty1921 was Irish Privy Councillor Sir Stanley Harrington OB.

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On the left of politics, Dr Noel Browne was appointed Minister of Health 1948, while on the right, Gerard Sweetman was Minister of Finance in 1954.

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Colonel Justin McCarthy OB led the first Irish UN peacekeeping mission in 1958 (to the Lebanon) and he was commemorated on a 55 cent postage stamp.

FRANCE

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The Chateau d’Usse  home of the Prince de Blacas was the inspiration for Perrault’s “Sleeping Beauty” and the Disney castle.

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Helie Tallyrand, Prince de Sagan

Jules Albert de Dion

The grandson of the great Tallyrand   was an early student 1872. He later married the American heiress Anna Gould after her divorce from Boni de Castellane – their son was at Beaumont 1920.

Jules Albert de Dion OB, anti-Dreyfusard  struck President Loubet over the head with his walking stick at Auteuil Races and went to prison for 15 days. De Dion also founded his own car company, the French Automobile Club, the Aero Club and the Tour de France. Among his several duels was one with future Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau.

Jean Lehideux OB and the family bank were influential in the Synarchy – a secret far right society between the Wars. Several of their members came to power in Vichy France.

Jean Provoust OB was the best known magazine proprietor in the country owning Paris –Midi, Paris Soir, Paris Match and Marie-Claire.

MALTA

Sir Edward Jackson OB was Deputy Governor during WW2 when the Island was awarded the George Cross.

Colonel John Francia OB and his son John-Baptist OB owned the National Bank and their home the Palazzo Francia was bequeathed to the nation.

Captain Frederick Samut MC OB was the Leader and founder of the Maltese Nationalist (Fascist) Party between the World Wars.

NEW ZEALAND.

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The diplomat Terence O’Brien was President of the UN Security Council during his country’s tenure at the time of the Bosnia War 1993.

PERU

Federico Pezet the grandson of President Juan Pezet was his country’s first

Ambassador to Washington in 1912.

 

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H E Federico Pezet

PHILIPPINES

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Sergio Osmena, son of the political rival of President Marcos and the grandson of President Osmena was secretary general of the Progressive Party and  is now a Senator for the Liberals.

SOUTH AFRICA

 

The Prime Minister of the Cape Sir Thomas Uppington sent his son Beauclerk to Beaumont in 1881. Beauclerk later became one of the most brilliant barristers at the South African Bar.  

SPAIN

At one time, seven members of King Alfonso XIII’s administration had been at the school.

The first Spanish Ambassador to send his to Beaumont was the Marquis de Molins in 1868, since then the following OBs have been accredited to the Court of St James;

1913-31 Marquis Merry Del Val

1939-45 Duke of Berwick and Alba

1948-54 Duke of Sanlucar & Baena

The 17th Duke of Berwick and Alba OB was also Foreign Minister 1930-1

The plot to bring General Franco from the Canary Islands to Spanish Morocco and take command of the Nationalist forces in the Civil War was hatched at the residence of José Quinones de Leon in Paris and also included the Duke of Berwick and Alba and the Marquis Del Merito all OBs.

Alfonso Marquis de Portago OB was General Mola’s special emissary to Rome and Berlin to gain support for the Nationalist cause.

Beaumont had a holiday granted to celebrate the Nationalist victory in the Civil War.

Prince Alfonso Duke of Galliera OB was appointed Chief of Staff of the air force by the King in 1931 and later he was Head of the Nationalist Air Force during the Civil War. His brother Infante Luis Fernando OB was arrested for drug offences; he was a cross-dresser and homosexual.

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The Osborne Bull (7 Osborne boys at the school) was adopted as the sports emblem for all individuals and teams competing for their country.

Ramon del la Sota y MacMahon OB was the representative of the Basque Government in the USA when they went into exile during the Civil War.

THE UNITED STATES.

Thomas Woodlock OB, one of the most influential men in US finance was joint owner of Dow Jones & Co and editor of the Wall Street Journal. He was also appointed by President Coolidge to the Federal Commerce Commission.

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Clarence Mackay

The Mackay Necklace

Clarence Mackay, financier and one of the wealthiest men in the U S owned the most opulent house in the country – Harbor Hill based on Mansart’s Chateau de Maisons 1642. It occupied the highest point overlooking Long Island Sound. The drive was 23 miles long.

He married the soprano Anna Case.

The Mackay necklace contains the largest cut emerald in the US gem collection 167.97 carats; it is now in the Smithsonian Institute.

He was US Amateur Racquets Champion 1902

His daughter Ellin married Irving Berlin.

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Boss Croker

Callandar House

Richard “Boss” Croker, racketeer and racehorse owner, who ran New York for ten years in the 1890’s sent his son Herbert to the school.

John Livingston Redmond of Wells Fargo and American Express left the school in 1906. President Franklin Roosevelt became engaged to Eleanor in the grounds of the Redmond mansion Callandar House overlooking the Hudson River.

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William Buckley OB was considered the “pre-eminent voice of American conservatism and the most influential intellectual in the last half of the 20th century”. Member of CIA, Editor National Review and US Delegate to the UN.

EUROPEAN UNION.

 

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 Baron Philippe de Schoutheete de Tervarent OB was appointed to the Committee of

 Permanent Representatives 1987 – 97.

LAW

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3rd Lord Russell of Killowen

The Hon Sir Charles Russell

The first Catholic Lord Chief Justice of England since the Reformation –Lord Russell of Killowen sent his sons to the school. His younger son Frank sat as a Lord Justice of Appeal as the 2nd Lord Russell as did his grandson Charles as the 3rd Lord Russell.

 Sir Charles Russell OB, younger son of the 1st Lord Russell, solicitor, acted for King Edward VII as POW and for Lord Queensbury in the Oscar Wilde case, also advocate for Britain in the Bering Sea Arbitration 1893.

Sir Theobald Mathew was the longest serving Director of Public Prosecutions from 1944 -1964. He was married to the daughter of an OB (Hon Cyril Russell) and his son John Mathew QC OB was in his time the senior man at the Bar.

Mathew’s Assistant Director from 1952 was Frederick Donal Barry OB.

The most popular profession for OBs was the law, as both barristers and solicitors.

ACADEMIA

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Luiz Lelior

Sir Anthony Leggett

The School produced two Nobel Prize winners; Luiz Lelior, Chemistry 1970 & Sir Anthony Leggett, physics 2003

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“Sligger” Urquhart

Peter Levi

“Sligger” Urquhart OB was the first Catholic Oxford Don since the Reformation when appointed 1896.

Peter Levi OB, author and writer was elected Oxford Professor of Poetry in 1984

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Charles Jerningham OB – “Marmeduke” of Vanity Fair was known for his witty prose and his maxims  “We insist that money is the root of all evil and behave as if it were the source of all good”.

ACCOLADES (modern)

OBs have been elected by their peers to such titles as;

Humanist of the Year; Ronald Bon de Souza.

US Chemist of the Year; Horace Cutler.

Canadian Professor of the Year; Shane O’Dea.

UK Tax Personality & “Vatrat”; Christopher Tailby.

UK Barrister’s “Dream Team”; John Mathew QC.

 Most Influential Figure in the last 50 Years of British Music; Chris Blackwell.

TV Emmy Award; Piers Anderton

India; Padma Shree; Prof John Marr.

Hong Kong; Gold Bauhinia Star; Judge Anthony Rogers.

                                                                           

ART & ARCHITECTURE

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Bernard Leach

Sir Giles Gilbert Scott

Bernard Leach OB was “the father of British studio pottery” and a Companion of Honour.

 Sir Giles Gilbert Scott OB was the architect for buildings that included Liverpool Cathedral, Libraries at Oxford and Cambridge, Battersea and Bankside (Tate Modern) Power stations and the K2 Red Telephone box. He is one of only two  architects to be awarded The Order of Merit.

    

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Pownall Mosaic

Clairin painting

                                                                        

 Gilbert Pownall OB was responsible for the mosaics in Westminster Cathedral.

Pierre Eugene Clairin OB studied under Serusier and Gaugin and was an acclaimed French artist, illustrator and writer.

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Adah Russell

Tina Freeman Woollam

One of John Singer Sargent’s finest portraits is of Adah wife of the Hon Sir Charles Russell.

The portrait chosen by Andy Warhol on the front cover of his autobiography is of Tina Freeman wife of Philip Woollam OB.

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The Portrait of Rachel the wife of Ct Henri de Boisgelin OB was painted by Leon Bakst the most famous Russian artist of the 20th Century.

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Peter Kernot OB  step-son of Bill Brandt took the portrait of one of the great Photographers of his day famed for his distorted nudes and lanscapes.

  ENGINEERING

 

Sir John Aspinall OB was one of the most influential Railway Engineers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Joseph Day OB was the inventor of the 2 stroke engine circa 1890 which is still in use today.

THEATRE & FILM

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Sonnie Hale

Charles Laughton

Sonnie Hale the famous musical and revue actor of the Thirties was married to Evelyn Laye and then Jessie Mathews.                                  

                                   

Oscar winning actor Charles Laughton was a pupil at the preparatory school St Johns.

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Conchita Supervia

Sir Alec Guinness

Both the son and grandson of the renowned Spanish soprano Conchita Supervia were at the School as was the son of the tenor Michael Eisdell.

Looking for “a virile education”, Sir Alec Guinness sent his son to the school in 1954.

Ballet’s Royal Academy of Dance was founded by Philip Richardson OB in 1921 together with the leading exponents of the day including Ninette de Valois.

The Gatti family (6 at the school) owned the Adelphi and the Vaudeville theatres and leased the Strand.

 Kynaston Reeves OB was succeeded by Raf de la Torre OB in the role of Mr Quelch for the BBC series of “Billy Bunter of Greyfriars School”.

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Blanche Blackwell

Natacha de Urzaiz

Blanche Blackwell wife of Middleton OB was mistress and muse to Ian Fleming and gave rise to the Bond Girls - Honeychile Ryder and Pussy Galore.

Natacha de Urzaiz (Rambova), costume designer, was the wife of Alvaro, Conde Del Puerto OB. She was first married to screen idol Rudolph Valentino.

The back gates of the school were used as part of the film set for the spoof James Bond film “Casino Royal” 1967 starring David Niven, Orson Wells and Ursula Andress.

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Ralph Bates, the actor, was known as “the Prince of Gothic Horror” usually with the lead role in a Hammer Horror Film during the Seventies. Bates made characters such as Dracula physically attractive with his satanic good looks, contemptuously confident air and sarcastic wit. He also played many roles on television and was star of the sitcom “Dear John”. 

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Carmina Rosa

Mary Hay

Ramon de Florez OB, a courtier to King Alfonso X111 was married to Carmina Rosa the legendary Cuban actress and vedette of the Golden Age of Mexican Cinema in the 1940s and ‘50s

Vivian Bath OB, owner of Eden Hall Singapore and later Australian horse breeder was married to American actress Mary Hay, dancer, film and musical actress.

MUSIC

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Beatrice Langley

Nicholas Danby

 Acclaimed violinist Beatrice Langley playing her famed Maggini instrument circa 1600; she was married to writer and author Basil Tozer OB .

Henry Morriss OB, Shanghai tycoon, owned and played the Hellier Stradivarius violin now in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington

Nicholas Danby OB – leading international organ recitalist of the second half of the 20th century.

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Chris Blackwell

Peter Hamill

Chris Blackwell OB son of Middleton OB was the founder of Island Records and introduced Reggae music to western culture. He is considered to be one of the most influential people in popular music in the last half century.

Peter Hamill OB progressive rock singer and song writer and founder of the band Van der Graaf Generator.

Prince Rupert zu Loewenstein OB was the financial adviser and backer of The Rolling Stones though he had no intertest in Rock or Pop Music.

Peter Holman OB is the Conductor and founder of The Parlay of Instruments and one of the foremost interpreters of European Baroque music.

Two music masters Samuel Smith and Tommy Clayton completed 100 years’ service between them to the School.

RELIGION

Beaumont produced over one hundred ordained priests - the majority to the Society of Jesus.

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Jean Vanier in 2012

Cardinal Merry Del Val

Jean Vanier

Cardinal Merry Del Val, Servant of God, and Secretary of State to Pope Pius X passed part of his education at the school.

Jean Vanier, CCGOQ, the Canadian Catholic philosophertheologian, and humanitarian. In 1964 he founded L'Arche, an international federation of communities spread over 37 countries, for people with developmental disabilities and those who assist them.

 Pope Leo XIII sent his Apostolic Blessing to the school twice in December 1894 and in March 1903. Pius X Saint and Pope sent his Blessing  in October 1906.  John XX111 Saint and Pope sent his Blessing in May 1961.

The Apostolic Delegate and Papal Envoy Mgr Joseph Pizzardo paid an official visit to the school in 1937.

The Slipper Chapel at the Shrine at Walsingham is also a memorial to Lt Launcelot Cary OB of the Devonshire Regiment killed on the Somme July 1916.

Dom Odo Blundell OB, Chaplain to the Grand Fleet, in 1908 was the first priest to say Mass on one of HM ships since the reign of King James II.

Eleven OBs served as Privy Chamberlains of Sword and Cape to the Pope. One OB served as Page (when still at school).

The Chapel Rose Window was the gift of Lady Williams Bulkeley

The Beaumont Monstrance contained 88 diamonds and 39 amethysts a gift by King George 1V to the Errington Family and bequeathed by Sir John and lady Stanley Errington.

The six Candlesticks designed by Bentley for the Chapel High Altar were the gift of President Guzman Blanco of Venezuela in memory of his third son who died while still at the school.

Other important donors to the Chapel include Don Carlos of Spain, The Marquis of Stacpoole, The Duchess of Madrid, The Duke of Santona, Sir Humphrey de Trafford and Mrs John Mackay.

Holy Relics held included that of The True cross, St Thomas a Beckett and St Stanislaus.

SOCIETY (between the Wars)

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 Paula Gellibrand known as “Modigliani come to life” and a muse of Cecil Beaton was married to Peter Marquis de Casa Maury OB.

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Freda Dudley Ward

Baba d’Erlanger

De Casa Maury later married Freda Dudley Ward, the long standing mistress of Edward Prince of Wales before his marriage to Wallis Simpson.

Baba d’Erlanger daughter of the Baron de Beaumont, a friend of Paula Gellibrand, was known for her “razor-shell figure” and her be-jewelled swimsuits. She married Prince Jean-Louis Faucigny-Lucinge OB .

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Olga Leighton 

Leonora Hughes

Olga Leighton married Alfonso Marquis de Portago OB, polo player, actor and friend of the Spanish King. She is seen here (right) with her pet goat at a polo match.

Legendary dancer Leonora Hughes married Argentinean landowner Carlos Ortiz- Basualdo OB.

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Prince Jerome Rospigliosi

Sir Francis Rose

Prince Jerome Rospigliosi OB eloped with the 19 year old Marion Snowden daughter of oil Tycoon James Hastings Snowden.

Sir Francis Rose Bt, OB, Bohemian artist, seen here with art collector Gertrude Stein. A painter and illustrator, his work is in the Yale University Gallery and the Fine Arts of San Francisco. He illustrated Alice Toklas’s cookbook that included Hashish Fudge - “two pieces are enough for fits of laughter and wild floods of thought”.

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Capt Edward Molyneux

a Molyneux gown

                                      

 Edward Molyneux OB , Parisian fashion designer, famed for his elegant style, particularly  evening gowns. He dressed both royalty and ladies most prominent in the world of the Arts and Society.

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Katherine Duer

Dona Maria del Rosario de Silva

Katherine Duer(1880-1930) was born the daughter of a wealthy, High Society New York family. Descended from Colonel and Lady Kitty Duer financial backers of George Washington and the American Revolution. The Debutante of her year, she married Clarence Mackay 1898 Divorced 1914. She was a suffragette and President of the Equal Franchise Society. 

Dona Maria del Rosario de Silva daughter of the Duke of Hijar. She inherited a fortune from her mother and married the Duke of Berwick and Alba OB. She was considered one of the young beauties of her time but died tragically young at 34.

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Romanian born French Actress and Singer Alice Cocea was married to Ct Stanislaus de la Rochefoucauld OB.

SOCIETY (post war)

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Maxime de la Falaise

“The only truly chic Englishwoman” 

Loulou de la Falaise

 “The quintessential Rive Gauche Bohemienne”

Both the wife and daughter of Count Alain de la Falaise OB were leading fashion models of their day.

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Don Carlos de Beisteguie OB gave what has been described as “the party of the century” at his Palazzo Labia in Venice in 1951.

WINE, SPIRIT & OTHER

 OBs have owned many of the most renowned companies worldwide;

Beer

        Stella Artois - Belgium

        Oland - Canada’s oldest brewery

        Smithwick – Ireland’s oldest brewery

        Miles  - Madeira

Brandy

        Hennessy, Rouyer-Guillet

Champagne

        Charles Heidsieck, de Ayala 

 Gin

        Gilbey’s                                                                                      

Rum

        Blackwell

Madeira & Port

        Miles                                                          

        Kopke (Bohane)

Sherry

        Gonzalez-Byass, Osborne, Pemartin, Sancho (Mateos)

Whisky

         Scotch;  Buchanan

         Irish;     Tullamore (Williams)

Wine

        Rioja – Ygay (de Olivares)

Soft Drink

        Irn-Bru – Barr

SPORT     

Both the The Duke of Berwick & Alba (Spain) and Jorge Gomez y Parada (Mexico) were elected to the International Olympic Committee in 1924.

 ATHLETICS

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Freddie Wolff won a gold medal at the 1936 Olympics as a member of the 4 x 400m relay team. He was also British 440yrd title holder 1933.

ALPINE

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1922 Everest Expedition. Strutt standing left

Edward Strutt was President of the Alpine Club and climb leader of the first Everest Expedition 1922 for which he received a special Olympic medal.

The photographer and instigator for the ’22 expedition was John Baptist Noel the son of an OB,

Lionel Ryan was the first climber to successfully ascend the Weisshorn in winter 1902.

CRICKET

Several OBs played for Ireland from 1880 till WW1;

Philip Meldon “the slowest bowler in first class cricket”.

Budge Meldon

Walter Meldon

Anthony Strong-Hussey

William McCarten Mooney (with a record score of 1 in four test matches against the USA). His brother Edmund was team manager.

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Charles de Trafford “C E” played for Lancashire ‘84 and was President of the club whose home ground takes its name Old Trafford from the family.

He was Captain of Leicestershire ’94 for seventeen seasons.

 He is the only batsman to make a clean hole, when hitting a six through the Committee room window at Lords.

His six, that hit Lord Harris’s memorial garden outside the ground, is an unequalled biggest hit.

Denis Compton and Bill Edrich first played together for the MCC against Beaumont at Old Windsor in 1937.

Peter Bird, when playing for the XI against the Oratory 1956 put one of his sixes into the St John’s Wood Road – a record hit for a schoolboy.

David Bulfield took all ten Oratory wickets for 78 at Lords in 1954.

CYCLING

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Marquis Jules Albert de Dion was the founder of the Tour de France in 1903

EQUESTRIAN

 

Beaumont was exceptional in teaching riding and stable management up until WW1.

Polo

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“Boy” Capel

Sir Humphrey de Trafford

The game was the most successful of OB sports with 5 Olympic medals for 3 different countries.

Sir Humphrey de Trafford 3rd Bt was a player of note and had a ground laid out at Trafford Park. He bred one of the thoroughbred foundation sires of the modern pony.

Lord Bryan-Bellew was a member of the first British team to tour and play Australia in 1899.

Jack Mitjans Duke of Santona was one of the early players in Spain and led a team of Dukes, all Beaumont educated, to play in the United States and England 1907.

Ct Jean de Madre the father of an OB played for England and won a silver medal in the 1900 Olympics although a Frenchman. His team the Tigers were one of the outstanding sides of the first half of the 20th century.

At the 1908 Olympics both John McCann and Percy O’Reilly played for Ireland to win a Silver medal. McCann’s son Patrick was later Chairman of the All Ireland Club.

Both Leonard Morrogh-Ryan and John O’Neil-Power were also International Irish players at the turn of the 19th century.

There are 3 OBs named on the Roehampton Cup which was the most prestigious trophy in the English calendar up until WW2; Jack Nelson, Manuel Escandon and Evelyn Fanshawe.

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Nando Peneranda (left) travelling to the U S A with Lord Wimborne   

In the 1920 Olympics, both the Duke of Alba and his brother the Duke of Peneranda OB

won silver medals for Spain.

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Argentinean Olympic Gold medallists

The Argentineans won the gold medal in 1924 when captained by Jack Nelson OB who scored the winning goal. Jack was also the non-playing captain of the again victorious side 1936 and three times president of the Argentinean Association. Both his brother Louis OB and his son Juan OB were players of international repute.


Jack Nelson also captained the side that recorded the highest number of goals in an International match which has not been broken since 1936: they beat the USA 21 – 9 at Meadowbrook New York.

In WW2, the two regiments that played the first ever match in England, the 10th Royal Hussars and the 9th Royal Lancers were both commanded by OBs and polo players – Ronald McDonnell 9L and Jack Archer-Shee 10H.

Racing

OBs have had considerable success both as owners and managers in the lifespan of the school.

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Wolff 

Wilkinson

Some OBs have run their horses in the school colours

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Manna

Henry “Shanghai”Morriss owned Manna winner of the 1925 Derby and 2000gns. The horse was bred at the Confrey Stud in Ireland owned by the Mahers, uncle and aunt of Brigadier Jerry Sheil OB. Manna held the record time for the Derby until 1979.

Henry Morriss also owned the Banstead Manor Stud where Frankel, considered by many as the best horse of all time now stands.

Sir Humphrey de Trafford 4th Bt won the Derby in 1959 with his home bred Parthia. The previous season he won the St Leger with Alcide.

Hector MacDonald was manager to Lord Woolavington and won him 7 seven classics including the Derby twice - 1921 with Captain Cuttle and 1926 with Cornach.

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Abernant

Reginald MacDonald-Buchanan

Hector’s brother and sister in law. – Sir Reginald and Lady MacDonald-Buchanan (daughter of Ld Woolavington) won the Derby and St Leger 1941 with Owen Tudor. Reginald also owned Abernant in 1948 hailed as the Champion of Europe and the “best sprinter ever to grace the racecourse”.

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Orby

Richard “Boss” Croker, father of Herbert OB, owned the first Irish bred winner of the Derby with Orby in 1907. He also bred Grand Parade that won in 1919.

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Captain Charles Moore (right) at Ascot

Captain Charles Moore was the Royal Racing Manager to both King George VI and The Queen. He was to win for the King the Fillies Triple Crown in 1941 with Sun Chariot. Hypericum won the 1000gns in 1945 and in 1950 Park hill won the Cesarewich..

Further successes were Aureole leading sire of 1960 and ’61. He produced Carrozza to win The Oaks and Pall Mall the 2000gns. His expertise led to the Queen being leading owner in1954 and ’57.

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Lady Granard

1929 National with the largest field of 66

The Earl of Granard OB was His Majesty’s Representative at Ascot in the Thirties. His wife the American Beatrice Mills was one of the most successful owners and breeders both in Europe and the United States from 1930 through to 1970.

Anthony Topham OB was the third of his family to act as Handicapper and Clerk of the Course at Aintree. He was in charge of the Grand National from 1910 until his death in 1932.

James Hennessy, the father of two OBs, won the National with Lutteur III in 1909.

FENCING

Three OBs represented their country at the Olympics in the Sabre division.

1920 & 1924 Robin Dalglish for GB and received a special medal for good sportsmanship.

1924 Julian de Olivares for Spain.

1936 Bernardo de la Guardia for Costa Rica and his country’s first ever competitor.

FLYING

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Jacques de Sibour and his wife Violette (Selfridge) were the first to fly from London to Peking across Russia in 1931 in a Farman. They also flew around the world in a Gypsy Moth in 1928.

FOOTBALL

Several OBs won caps for Ireland; all played for the Gentlemen Freebooters; -

Philip Meldon - the cricketer.

John Nolan  -  the youngest goalie at 20 when selected for his country in 1901.

Henry O’Reilly – centre forward.

The Gentlemen Freebooters based at Booterstown Dublin were formed in 1898 and consisted mainly of OBs. They included Henry O’Reilly and his two brothers who formed the forward line. In 1901, they were runners up in the Irish Cup Final. The team disbanded in 1914 with the advent of War.

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 Mexico: Jorge Gomez y Parada was  the first Mexican player of international renown in the opening decade of the 20th century

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Federico Revuelto

Spain: Guatemalan born Federico Revuelto played and captained Spanish champions Real Madrid and was Club President in 1916.

 The Hon Beauclerk Upington served as President for the South African Football (Soccer) Association from 1913 -1922,

GOLF

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The   B U G S - Beaumont Union Golfing Society 1931

 The Beaumont Union Golfing Society was one of the founders of the Halford Hewitt 1923 although they scratched in the first competition.

They won the Hewitt Plate in 1965 and resigned from the competition with the school closure in 1967, the only school ever to do so.

The Society instigated the Russell Bowl between the old boys of the four Catholic Schools of Ampleforth, Beaumont, Downside and Stonyhurst.

Percy Clifford represented Mexico in the America’s Cup and was six times National

Open Champion 1928-34. He designed many of the country’s top courses. The Torneo Percy Clifford is played annually at La Villa Rica in his memory.

Anthony Darnborough, later the film director captained the British under 18 team before

WW 2.

HUNTING

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Pablo Larios

William Gordon Cannin

   

Pablo Larios Marquis de Malzales was Master of The Royal Calpe Hunt for 42 seasons

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William Gordon Canning Master of the Ledbury for many Seasons produced “The Fox’s Prophecy” in 1914 for the War Charities.

George Bellew Later Lord Bryan Bellew won the Kadir Cup for pig sticking in India in 1882.

ROWING

Terence O’Brien

1927 won Silver Goblets for coxless pair at Henley

1928 Silver Olympic Medal  coxless pair

1930 stroke of London RC VIII to win the Grand at Henley stroke of the English VIII to win the Gold medal at the British & Commonwealth Games.

Both Anthony Shattock (Oxford) 1944 and Michael Bailey (Cambridge) 1945   were coxes in their respective winning boat at the Varsity Boat Race.

MOTOR RACING

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Peter Marquis de Casa Maury

Brian Hetreed

Peter “Bobby” de Maury was an early Grand Prix racing driver and finished 5th in his Bugatti in the 1922 French  race but last in the Italian event the same season. He was also managing director of Bentley Cars.

Brian Hetreed successful sports car driver was killed on the Nuerburgring in 1964.

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Captain Sir Alastair Miller Bt was considered by Motor Sport Magazine to be the most successful driver on the Brooklands Circuit between the Wars.

Bede Bentley was the first person to attempt the drive from one end of Africa to the other in 1911. He was the first to drive to Addis Ababa.

 SAILING

Major Sir Reginald MacDonald-Buchanan was Captain of the British 12 metre Yacht Association and was part of the Royal Yacht Squadron bid for the America’s Cup in 1958.

Philip Tolhurst is currently Chairman of the International Offshore Sailing Federation - the sport’s governing body.

TENNIS, RAQUETS & CROQUET

Vincent Miley was Irish Open Champion in 1920.

Sir George Langton was Chairman of the All England Club in the Thirties when Evelyn Harrington was Chairman for the Ireland Club.

Clarence Mackay was US Amateur Racquets Champion 1902.

Andy Murray Olympic Gold medallist and former No1 in the World usually celebrates his victories with Douglas Barr’s Irn-Bru.

Cyril Corbally, the supreme croquet player of his generation, won the British Open five times before WW1. He also introduced the Corbally Mallet to the modern game

WINTER SPORTS

 

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The first ever Spanish bobsled team in the 1956 Winter Olympics consisted of Fon Portago (son of an OB) and Vincente Sartorious  - they were fourth in the Two-man and ninth in the Four-man. Vincente was married to Princess Nora of Lichtenstein a member of the International Olympic Committee.

Guy Chilver-Stainer OB was manager of the first British Langlauf ski team at the Cortina Olympics 1956. He was later CEO of the Scottish Ski Council.

Eduardo Hope OB captained the Argentinean Bobsleigh team at the 1928 Olympics to finish 4th.